Before buying a used iPhone, you may want to confirm that the iPhone that you are planning to buy is an Unlocked iPhone. You will find below the steps to Find if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked to a Carrier.
Use Settings to Find if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked If the seller has provided you with access to iPhone, you can follow the steps below to check if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked to a Carrier. Open Settings scroll down and tap on Cellular. Check your iPhone’s service plan. You can check your plan in order to determine whether you are on pay as you go, prepaid or on two years contract. If you are on pay as you go or prepaid probably your iPhone is unlocked, but if you are on contract, your device can be locked. Method #2 Check Your iPhone Settings. Click on your iPhone Settings. I went through ATT's unlock device process, and received my email with the Request/Code. I followed the 'unlock steps' as instructed in the email from ATT. But I never got the 'congratulations, your device is now unlocked' message. How can I verify 100% that my iPhone is unlocked? ATT says got to Apple for questions.
An unlocked iPhone can be used on any network, while a locked handset is tied to just one. The iPhones you pay full price for (typically from the Apple Store ) are unlocked by default.
Find If iPhone Is Unlocked or Locked
An iPhone that is sold directly by Apple is always sold as an Unlocked iPhone and it can be used with any carrier or network.
An unlocked iPhone requires more upfront or initial cost to buy and has a good market value (in case you want to sell it).
iPhones sold by Carriers or Telephone companies are often made available to customers at attractive down payments and may even be offered at zero down payment.
However, the downside of buying a Locked iPhone is that you won’t be able to use this iPhone with any other Service provider.
In general, Carriers Lock iPhones for a period of 18 to 24 months, after which you can request the Carrier to unlock your iPhone.
How to Find if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked
If you are buying a used iPhone, make sure that you ask the seller whether or not the iPhone is locked to a Carrier.
To confirm, you can use any of the following methods to check whether the iPhone that you are trying to buy is Locked or Unlocked iPhone.
1. Use Settings to Find if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked
If the seller has provided you with access to iPhone, you can follow the steps below to check if iPhone is Unlocked or Locked to a Carrier.
1. Open Settings > scroll down and tap on Cellular.
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2. On the Cellular screen, tap on Cellular Data Options.
3. On the next screen, see if you can find Cellular Data Network option.
If you can find Cellular Data Network option, you are most likely dealing with an Unlocked iPhone. This option does not appear, if the iPhone is locked to a Carrier.
2. Use SIM Card From Another Carrier
While the first method does indicate whether the iPhone is Locked or Unlocked, it is better to confirm this by using a SIM Card from another Carrier.
Check If Phone Is Unlocked
You will need to arrange a meeting with the Seller and seek his/her permission to check if the iPhone can make a call using SIM Card from another Carrier.
1. Press and Hold the Power Button, until you see ‘Slide to Power OFF’ screen. Use the Slider to Power OFF iPhone.
2. Remove the existing SIM Card from iPhone and Insert SIM Card from another Carrier into the iPhone.
3. After replacing the SIM Card, press the Power button to start iPhone.
4. After the iPhone restarts, try to make a Call from the iPhone
If the Call goes through, it confirms that the iPhone is Unlocked. If the Call does not Connect, the iPhone is definitely Locked to a Carrier.
3. Use IMEI Number to Find if iPhone is Locked or Unlocked
The first two methods require access to iPhone and are convenient only when your deal to buy a used iPhone is almost in its final stages.
If the deal is still in initial stages, you can request the Seller to provide you with the IMEI Number of the iPhone and use this info to check whether the iPhone is Locked to a Carriers Network.
How Can I Check If Iphone Is Unlocked
1. Get the IMEI Number of iPhone from the Seller.
If the Seller does not know where to look for the IMEI Number, you can refer the seller to this guide – How to Find IMEI Number On iPhone.
2. Using your Mac or Windows computer, go to iphoneimei.info website. This is considered to be one of the better known websites to check the Locked or Unlocked status of iPhone.
3. On the website, enter the 15 digit IMEI Number of iPhone and press and click on the Right-Arrow.
4. If the displayed result reads ‘Locked’ it means that the iPhone is locked. If the displayed message reads ‘Unlocked‘ it confirms that the iPhone is Unlocked.
If the iPhone is still Locked to a Carrier, you will find the website offering you its Unlocking service for a Fee.
Going by information on the website, the Unlocking is done remotely and you won’t be required to send your device for unlocking.
Also, the website offers a Full Refund, in case it is unable to Unlock your iPhone for some reason.
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The IMEI number or in other words International Mobile Equipment Identity is a unique 15-digit code that precisely identifies the device with the SIM card input. The first 14 digits are defined by GSM Association organization. The last digit is generated by an algorithm named Luhn formula and it has a control character. This number is an individual number assigned to each and every phone all over the world. The easiest way to IMEI check on any phone is to use the *#06# sequence. The IMEI was created because the SIM card number cannot be a permanent identifier of the device. The SIM Card is associated with the user and can be easily transferred from the phone to another phone that’s why IMEI was developed. Why would you need to check the IMEI Number? The number is useful when you would like to send the device for service to fill out warranty forms. Besides that, if you want to report a stolen or a lost phone at the police or network operator you should use the IMEI Number as well. After that, you can block your phone and it will make the device unusable, regardless of whether the SIM card is changed or removed. What is also really important is that IMEI contains a few secret information about the product but also sometimes allows you to locate the smartphone.
How to use check IMEI function? How to extract secret information from IMEI Number? The imei.info is the best answer to this question. All you need is to use our IMEI checker function. By using our free lookup function we use the first six digits of IMEI called TAC (Type Approval Code) to find the exact model of the device. Afterwards when the search IMEI engine will find your phone the specification will be displayed on the screen. Here you can read the secret info about your device and the basic specification. One of the most important features of IMEI.info lookup function are the online checkers such as warranty info, simlock status, IMEI carrier check, blacklist report. On our site you can use all of this IMEI service checks and simple check IMEI feature completely free.